22 acre mixed farm

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In this model, a diverse mixed farm is set up on 22 acres. The farm produces vegetables, soft and top fruit, jams, juice and cider, eggs, chicken, cheese, beef, lamb and pork which are all sold directly to customers. This farm requires a diverse market for its produce which could be provided by a couple of good weekly farmers’ markets, or a farm shop if the location was right. In the case of the farm shop, start up costs would be higher to reflect the additional infrastructure costs. This model is resilient because of its diversity, but requires more start up capital to set systems up efficiently and ensure that the complex systems run well in parallel.

1 acre of the farm is used for vegetables, with 0.75 acres used to grow a range of crops outdoors and 500m2 used for polytunnel production. This brings in approximately £21,000 per year growing a variety of vegetables with a focus on higher value crops requiring less specialised equipment. A further acre is used for strawberries and soft fruit, which are sold fresh and processed into jams. This brings in another £7,000. 2 acres of land are planted to apple orchards that would produce about 3,500 litres of juice per acre per year at peak production. At £2.50/liter this juice is worth £17,500.

250 laying chickens are kept that are rotated around the farm, making use of the orchards and growing areas at some times of year. The 250 chickens would produce around 4500 dozen eggs that are sold at £2.50/half dozen bringing in £22,500. The chickens would make use of processing waste from vegetables and fruit but would require some cereal feeds.

4 Jersey cows are milked yielding approximately 5000 litres each over the year. The 20,000 litres of milk are processed into cheese which is sold for an average of £15/kg. This brings in a total of £27,000. Calves are raised to 24 months and three are slaughtered each year, and butchered bringing in £2000 each. One calf joins the herd and one cull cow is also slaughtered bringing in £1000. The cows generate £7,000 of beef per year. The cows are primarily fed on pasture, hay and silage, however some lucerne supplement is required to reach 5000 liters per year. The cows require 12 acres of pasture and are rotated with the sheep.

1 breeding sow is kept, producing 2 litters of 10 piglets a year. Piglets are killed at 50kg and processed into bacon, sausages and meat. These are worth £400 each bringing in £8,000. The pigs are fed on whey from the cheese making, processing waste from the fruit and vegetables and brought in cereal feed. The pigs account for 1/2 an acre.

Finally, 10 ewes are kept on the remaining 3 acres. The 10 ewes produce 16 lambs per year. 13 are slaughtered and butchered each year, bringing in £150 each. 3 join the flock and 3 cull ewes are slaughtered and butchered as well, bringing in £100 each. The flock brings in £2,250 each year.

In total the farms’ multiple enterprises bring in approximately £112,250 per year. Of this, around 60% would be labour costs and 30% fixed costs, leaving around 10% profit depending on the year.

The farms’ feed bill could be reduced by renting additional land and growing cereals for the pigs, chickens and dairy cows.